Imagining a world without Alaric or Hope in it does the trick, and fast. In a split second, tears well in my eyes, blurring my vision.
“Fuck.” As they roll down my cheeks, I cast my gaze to the floor. “I can’t lose my job over this. My boss said the next time I get an order wrong, I’m out.”
“No, wait.” I hear the mouse click. Then the keyboard. He must be double-checking to see if he missed anything. “I—shoot. I’m so sorry.”
“That’s fine.” I sniffle, sliding my eyes to his. “You tried. That’s all I could ask for. Call her and give it to her yourself if you must. I—I’ll figure it out. Even without references, someone out there will hire me.”
“Okay. Okay.” He runs his hand through his short hair. I do a small victory dance in my head. “I’m letting you through, but next time, please ask them to notify me.”
“Thank you.” A couple more blinks. A few more sniffles. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re very welcome.”
His green eyes are the last thing I see before I walk fast, but not too fast, toward the elevator bank. As far as he’s concerned, there’s a huge cake inside the box I have balanced in my hands.
While the elevator carries me to the floor Alaric and the Melvilles live on—thirty—my head stays bowed to hide the huge grin on my face from the security camera.
Ping.
I’m here.
My lungs press against my ribs as excitement fills them. I suck in a deep breath, exhale slowly, and step out.
First things first: thecake.
With my eyes glued to the floor, I set the box in front of apartment 30C, then immediately pull out my phone. If the doorman’s watching, he’ll think I got an important call. Probably my boss.
Though I keep up the act, whisperingyesandno, andI’m dropping off the cake, don’t worry about it, what I’m actually doing is pacing back and forth near Alaric’s door.
Apartment 30D.
My ears are pricked, my entire focus resting on what’s going on inside his home.
It’s suspiciously quiet. No TV, no talking on the phone, no music.
Hmm. He can’t be asleep, seeing how he just got here.
My curiosity flares, then my cheeks heat as I wonder if he’s touching himself. If one of his hands grips the cup sleeve while he fists his cock with the other.
That thought turns me on like nothing else ever has. I whisper moreyes,moreI’ll be right there, just stop yelling at mewhen all I want to do is clench my thighs.
Desire coils inside my stomach the longer I’m here, but after a couple of minutes, I know my time is up. The doorman will only buy my act for so long.
Gaping as ifmy bosssaid something outrageous likeyou’re fired, I take an obnoxiously large step forward.
“Fuck,” I hiss as the box gets crushed beneath my sneaker. “Fuck, no.”
As fast as humanly possible, I pretend to hang up, pocket my phone, and scoop up the wrecked box. I sprint to the elevator, jabbing at the button while my chin stays tucked to my chest.
“Miss.” The doorman is there when the elevator doors slide open. As suspected, he’s been watching my award-winning performance. “I can talk to your boss for you. I’ll help smooth things over with them.”
“She said if I get there in the next ten minutes, I still have my job. They’re already working on the cake. Again.”
“I won’t keep you then.”
I rush past him. “Thanks.”
“See you soon,” he calls out to me.